PC EXCLUSIVE: Alexa Havins Dishes Torchwood: Miracle Day and Whether She and Hubby Justin Bruening Are Headed Back to All My Children

Alexa Havins has come a long way since she was stealing babies from beloved lesbian icons as Babe Carey Chandler on ABC Daytime's All My Children. Even still, the beautiful, talented starlet, with the bubbly, infectious laugh, certainly hasn't forgotten where she got her start, or where she met the man who would become her husband and baby daddy (Daughter Lexington was born Aug. 9, 2010), then-costar Justin Bruening, who played Jamie Martin opposite Havins on the soap opera.

Havins then gets personal about how it felt to learn the soap opera that not only gave the young actress her start, but essentially her family, was being cancelled, only to be saved by the Internet at the eleventh hour. With so many big name alums like Josh Duhamel and Eva La Rue returning to Pine Valley before the All My Children picture book closes on network TV, will Havins and Bruening be returning as Babe and Jamie? After she answers that, Havins gives us a sneak peek at tonight's sure-to-be exciting episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Pop Confidential: Congratulations on the strong debut ratings for Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Alexa Havins: You know I was curious, I just said to my husband, “I wonder how the numbers did and I don’t know what the ratings are,” so you’re the first to tell me [Laughs].

PC: I think they were 1.5 million?

AH: For cable that’s really good!

PC: Yeah, they were good.

AH: I don’t know what they’re aiming for, but you know what? It’s one of those interesting situations to be in a show that’s not like a new debut, but in a way it is new to many people stateside, so it’s interesting to see.

PC: I think I read somewhere that it matched the highest rated original scripted debut for Starz.

AH: Oh fantastic! Then they’re happy [Laughs]! That’s good, so then it won’t be uncomfortable when I see everyone at Comic-Con [Laughs]!

PC: Nope! What has it been like becoming part of the whole Dr. Who/Torchwood universe?

AH: It’s interesting to be part of a show that has such a strong legacy. I mean we all know how long Dr. Who’s been with us, and since [Torchwood creator] Russell [ T. Davis] did the revamp. The second the job offer came around I was really enticed at the opportunity to 1.) be a part of Torchwood and 2.) just to work with Russell and John [Barrowman] and Eve [Myles]. So without question, it’s a place, especially for a newcomer, to just jump in and be a part of the team and just be a part of the ride. It’s pretty mind boggling. It’s a little surreal.

PC: You mentioned Comic-Con. I know you along with several of your costars (John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Lauren Ambrose, Bill Pullman and Mekhi Pfifer) and one of the writers (Jane Espenson) will be attending a panel at the event next week. Are you stoked about that?

AH: Yes, I am! You know, I’ve been to Comic-Con, on the other side. My husband had a show there, so he went and worked and I kinda played and I would run off and go to the floors and just see all the craziness that is Comic-Con. It’s going to be interesting being on the flip side of that, and just meeting all these fans. The people there are not going to be new to Torchwood this season; it’s going to be the true, diehard fans who have been with it from the beginning. I’m excited to meet them, especially being the newbie. We’ll see if they welcome Esther with open arms [Laughs]!

PC: We tease my blog's co-owner, Luke Kerr, because he is the biggest Torchwood nut, but after the premiere of Torchwood: Miracle Day, I can no longer meddle him, because I’m hooked myself!

AH: Did we get you? Nice!

PC: You got me! I was just telling Luke, your character, Esther Drummond, is the perfect entryway for a new viewer like me into the Torchwood mythology. Does that give you an added sense of responsibility, since basically your character introduces the U.S. audience to this world?

AH: Exactly. It’s um…a little pressure [Laughs]! When I first saw it, I saw this parallel—and you didn’t watch from the beginning—but Season One there’s that parallel between Esther and Gwen. She [Gwen] does the same thing. She is introducing and taking those viewers along for the ride, whereas I kind of say, in this version, Esther is the American tour guide [Laughs]. It is a lot of responsibility, but it’s seamless, the way Russell wrote it. He used my character as a vehicle to avoid recapping all this exposition. Instead of living in the past, it’s very in the moment and he uses Esther to keep it moving. She’s the one asking the questions, “What’s Torchwood? Who’s this mysterious man in the jacket? Who’s this Gwen Cooper?” So the questions that the new audience member is curious about gets answered quickly, so we don’t have to spend time in the mud. We can just say, “Hey, hop on and let’s enjoy the ride,” cause he has so much story to tell and it’s such an adventure.

PC: Judging from the first episode it’s definitely going to be an adventure. By the time it got to the moment where Gwen grabbed, what was that, a bazooka? And shot the helicopter down and let everyone know, “We’re Torchwood,” I was sold!

AH: We’re on the same page with stuff [Laughs]! If someone had asked me, “What were the big moments that let you know Torchwood is back?” To me it was the big reveal of the first time you see John wearing the Captain Jack coat, and the full outfit. Then there’s that moment where he’s standing out on the Jeep and they [Jack and Gwen] connect eyes and she just grabs that huge rocket launcher and then kicks ass! Poor Esther, her most dangerous weapon is her computer, which is quite necessary for survival, but it just doesn’t look as cool, carrying your laptop versus a rocket launcher. I was like, “Where’s my gun?” [Laughs].

PC: The central premise of Torchwood: Miracle Day is that people on Earth have stopped dying. They can still be hurt, but there is no longer mortality. What did you think when you first read the script?

AH: When I first was in consideration for it, a script wasn’t released, so there was a lot of filling in the blanks. Fortunately, my husband Justin, he’s right up there with Luke. He’s a crazy Torchwood fan, so I had a little bit of an 'in'. I had seen a lot [of Torchwood] through him and he helped me fill in any blanks and [answered] any questions I had. He made sure I knew I had to have sprinklings of comedy. With Torchwood that’s kind of the formula, even if you’re in the darkest of situations, it’s kinda sprinkled with that dark humor, and if something’s funny it still has this levity.

PC: Here’s my Oprah question — What would Alexa Havins do differently with her life if there was no death?

AH: I would…I want to say something daring and fabulous, but I think I would just hop on a plane and travel, travel, travel. Just take all my family and spend as much time with them as possible and see the world, because I feel like it’s such a big world and there’s never enough time. Every time I’m on vacation, I just want one more week, or one more destination. So that’s probably where you would catch me, jet setting across the world. Most people would probably be sky diving, and I think Eve said she’d be swimming with sharks, or something very dangerous, but yeah, I’d be traveling [Laughs]!

PC: One person who suddenly can die in this chapter of Torchwood is Captain Jack Harkness, played by the popular John Barrowman. Considering his character is omnisexual, will we see any romantic sparks between Captain Jack and Esther as she tries to help him and the other remaining members of Torchwood save the world?

AH: [Laughs] You know, I had a little request, because John may be the most charming man alive, John and Captain Jack, they share that in common. He’s always there and he’s always flirting and you see that little spark in the fountain, but that’s not exactly where the story goes. The love stories are a little bit of a side product of…the way Russell writes is interesting. It’s not just, “I’m going to do this love scene because I can,” or for ratings or whatever. If it serves the story and whatever is true to life [he’ll write a love scene]. You’ll see some of Captain Jack’s adventures in the bedroom [Laughs], but unfortunately sweet Esther doesn’t get any Jack love. They do have a really interesting relationship and it blossoms. He’s the one place that feels safe. It feels like home when she’s near him.

PC: Esther goes from pretty much doing research and grunt work for her boss Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer), to being thrust into the biggest adventure of her career and life. As an actress embarking on such a high profile project, can you identify?

AH: I feel in a way, being dropped into this role, there’s a parallel with that. You know, I was taking some time off and I’m a new mom, so I was spending time with my child. I had completely switched gears, not watching TV, not reading magazines. I didn’t have a clue what was going on and then all of the sudden, our lives, for what we do for a living, it can change so quickly on a dime, that I was kind of dabbling going, “Hmm, do I wanna go back? Am I ready?” Then it was just right in my face, this amazing opportunity and there was no way to pass it up. One second I’m Mom, the next second we were going into production. It all happened really fast. I think I had two weeks notice.

PC: Wow!

AH: I was home for Christmas break, and it was like, “Enjoy Christmas and then you’re part of Torchwood!” [Laughs] So, I can understand the whirlwind and emotions. I think that’s what Esther’s feeling. She’s in her safe, comfortable world. She knows what’s next and it’s very predictable, then all of the sudden her wish to be in the field is granted quite quickly and she's just thrown into this tornado. Everything around her changes, these people are experienced and smart and great on their feet, and quick thinking and here she is trying to keep up and find her new self in way. You do see that. Esther takes a literal journey as a team member and an emotional journey for herself. You see her grow up a lot and learning and watching Captain Jack, Rex and Gwen. Those people are so strong and know who they are and she’s an innocent in a way and naive. She’s the child of the group.

PC: In real-life you are married to fellow actor Justin Bruening, whom you met when you both starred on ABC Daytime’s All My Children. What reaction did the two of you have when you heard the series was being cancelled, only to get a reprieve by continuing as a web series?

AH: I am flabbergasted. I’m baffled. My stuttering reaction is how I feel! When I heard it was cancelled…so much of our history together stems from All My Children. I wouldn’t have my daughter...I wouldn’t have my child. It was a launching ground for me. It was one of my first jobs. It got me to where I am now professionally. Also, I have a personal connection that many don’t. So my heart was sad because there are so many crew members and a lot of wonderful people who have made a life out of All My Children. So to see it disappear, to see a piece of television history leave...then all of the sudden, in the final hour, it's saved [Laughs]! You know, I don’t know what to make of it. I haven’t heard much about it. I’ve heard it’s going online and the people I’ve talked to, a lot of them are interested. I’m sure the fans are thrilled?

PC: Definitely.

AH: That’s what happens in television. There’s always something. Somebody always has an ace in their back pocket.

PC: A lot of high profile alums, from Eva La Rue to Josh Duhamel are returning to Pine Valley before the show ends its run on ABC. Have you and Justin been contacted by the brass about doing cameo appearances as Jamie, Babe or the Ghost of Babe, since your character was killed off?

AH: That’s the question, mine’s a little tricky, because Babe, sweet Babe, was killed, but on daytime people come back from the dead all the time! You never know? So on my end, nothing’s quite certain, but Justin’s character Jamie is in Africa, so they’ve asked him and he—as far as I know—will be making a cameo. But..I don’t know, they were doing a finale? Is it still happening, now that it’s maybe online? It’s not really ending? I don’t quite know what's going on! Is everyone disinvited? I don’t know [Laughs]!

PC: From what I’ve heard, they’re still going to do a TV finale, but they’re just not going to wrap everything up with a nice, neat bow, since they’re moving online. So I’m sure any invitations stand!

AH: But you know, even though it’s continuing, it is still a finale, because it’s been on the airwaves, on TV for so long, and that moment’s passing. So sad...sad stuff, but you know, in a way, that’s kind of how television evolves. Who knows, maybe when our kids are older, they’ll do the remake of All My Children?

PC: And little Lexington can recreate the role of Babe!

AH: Exactly! Lexington can reprise the role of Babe for me. If we let her be an actress [Laughs]!

PC: That should lead to some interesting conversations since she’s being raised in a two-actor family.

AH: I know, it will be like, “Mom, I want to!” I just want to make sure...raising a child in the big city, I want her to have the life that we both did growing up, which was ride your bike around and play sports and be a kid and be with family, just the normalcy. I know it’s a little bit difficult to do with what we do for a living, but we’re going to do our best just to give her a nice, normal, good all-American upbringing.

PC: I think she’s off to a good start with you guys as parents!

AH: Thanks! I’m lucky, because the second the job came around, Justin said, “I am going to be Mr. Mom; I’m taking time off and you are going to set.” He might have filed divorce papers had I not taken the job [Laughs]! So there wasn’t much discussion in our house!

PC: That sounds like a reality show in the making, big, strapping Justin Bruening as Mr. Mom!

AH: And he’s amazing with her. They’re two peas in a pod, best buddies. Very few dads can take that role and responsibility. He’s stepped up. A lot of my guy friends are like, “I could take two hours and that’s it,” but  I would have long days on set and he would be there for her. So now I’m taking every minute I can.

PC: Tonight, a new episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day airs. Is there anything you can tease us with in terms of Esther's story in this episode?

AH: This is where you see the new Esther begin to blossom — a hint of a blossom. It's on the run and she’s starting to put stuff together and makes a narrow escape, meeting up with team. It’s just the very beginning stages of the team connecting. In that first moment they’re not quite clicking and it’s not making sense. There's a lot of action on their [Torchwood's] end, on the flight home from Wales to D.C. You'll see a lot.  Esther’s holding down the fort in D.C. It's a big fast-paced moving episode. This is the episode that establishes the team.

Photo credit: Starz